Effect of hirsutism on quality of life: a study in Iranian women

Objective: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) in hirsute women in southeast Iran. Patients and methods: In this cross-sectional study a convenience sample of hirsute females aged at least 18 years attending dermatology clinics of Kerman city, southeast of Iran, in 2005 was assessed. Each person with Ferriman-Gallway (F-G) score ≥8 or one area score equal to 4 was included as a hirsute case. QOL was assessed by self-administrated Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and SF-36 questioners. Results: In this study 96 hirsute females with mean age 27.24 years (range, 18-52 year, SD=6.76) were assessed. The mean F-G score was 13.57±6.83 and the mean DLQI score was 10.95±6.76. Symptoms and feelings had the highest mean score among DLQI sections (2.66±1.51) and limit to work/role due to emotional problems had the lowest mean score in SF-36 sections (52.34± 23.62). Conclusion: In our setting, hirsutism had considerable effects on quality of life of the affected women. The most components of the QOL which take effect from the disease are those related to symptoms and feelings.